Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Exam #3
Blunt Force Trauma
38
Criminal Justice
Undergraduate 4
12/04/2011

Additional Criminal Justice Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Homicide Death Considerations
Definition
Localized violence & use of weapon; may involve 1 blow or multiple blows
Term
Suicidal Death Considerations
Definition
Jumper from high places or person has thrown self into path of moving vehicle
Term
Accidental Death Considerations
Definition
Fall - w/ injuries inflicted to head & neck
Term
Blunt Force Injuries
Definition
Result from application of force to body over large or small surface area resulting in damage to tissues, but not necessarily accompanied by penetrating wound
Term
Generalized Injuries
Definition
Entire body or large segment of body affected; examples: car or plane accident, collapse of buildings, falls from great height, explosions
Term
[image]
Definition
Blunt force trauma - generalized injuries
Term
Localized Injuries
Definition
Relativity small part of body - may be occasions in which a collection of blows may involve a larger area of body due to overlapping small areas of injuries; greatest majority of homicidal blunt trauma activity
Term
[image]
Definition
Blunt force trauma - localized injury
Term
Extent of Blunt Force Injury
Definition
Dependent on 4 factors: 1. amount of force applied; 2. length of time of application of force; 3. size of area over which force is applied; 4. elasticity of organ receiving force
Term
Superficial Injury vs. Severe Injury
Definition
To skin vs. to internal organs
Term
[image]
Definition
Blunt force trauma - superficial injuries to the skin & severe injuries to internal organs
Term
Abrasions
Definition
Wearing away of skin in small shreds by friction; patterned at site of injury may be representative of tool used to inflict injury
Term
Contusions
Definition
Bruises caused by breakage of small blood vessels w/ blood moving into surrounding tissue - if bone present under injured soft tissue, bruise may appear rapidly; begins pinkish-red color, changes to bluish color, then greenish-yellow color until fades away
Term
Lacerations
Definition
Wound caused by crushing or tearing of tissues; occurs when blunt force applied to soft tissue stretches skin past point of elasticity resulting in tearing of tissue; can determine direction of force through examination
Term
Injuries Associated with Blunt Force Trauma
Definition
Superficial & severe injuries, abrasions, contusions, lacerations, fractures
Term
Bridging
Definition
When soft tissue stretches due to laceration injury & can see injury under fat strands
Term
[image]
Definition
Blunt force trauma - abrasions
Term
[image]
Definition
Blunt force trauma - contusions
Term
[image]
Definition
Blunt force trauma - lacerations
Term
[image]
Definition
Blunt force trauma - bridging in laceration
Term
[image]
Definition
Blunt force trauma - fracture
Term
Fracture
Definition
Break in bone; blood vessels & nerves may be injured in areas associated w/ this; bony fragments produced during this process may also produce contusions & lacerations; usually considerable amount of hemorrhaging associated w/ this
Term
Blunt Force Trauma to Head
Definition
Responsible for more homicidal deaths than blunt injury to other parts of body; selected in majority of fatal assaults; brain is more vulnerable to injury by blunt force; skin splits faster & cleaner
Term
Injury to Scalp
Definition
Skin splits a little faster & cleaner; may identify weapon used, direction & application of force
Term
Injuries Associated With Head Blunt Force Trauma
Definition
Injury to scalp, skull fractures, subarachnoid hemorrhage - coup & contre coup
Term
Skull Fracture
Definition
Gives evidence demonstrating sufficient violent force was applied to break bone - where injury took place & amount of blows; do not need to be present for severe brain damage to occur
Term
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Definition
Caused by rotation of brain within space in skull; bleeding will result due to shearing
Term
Coup (Subarachnoid Hemorrhage)
Definition
Blow injury which impacts side of skull
Term
Contre Coup (Subarachnoid Hemorrhage)
Definition
Fall injury in which brain is pushed to other side of skull; can determine directionality & amount of force used
Term
[image]
Definition
Blunt force trauma - injury to scalp
Term
[image]
Definition
Blunt force trauma - skull fracture
Term
[image]
Definition
Blunt force trauma - subarachnoid hemorrhage on right side of brain
Term
Scene Investigation
Definition
Weapon description: measurement of possible weapon, type - edge visible on item, & whether or not it was brought to scene or was from it originally; wound description: defensive marks
Term
Circumstances
Definition
1. Describe what happened; 2. If any suggestion decedent's death may be accidental, describe in detail; 3. Possible weapon? where normally kept? where was it prior to infliction of injury?; 4. Describe events prior to death - comments made by decedent during crime
Term
Processing at ME's Office (if homicide suspected)
Definition
1. Examine body for latent prints; 2. Collect trace evidence; 3. Collect bags used to cover hands while traveling; 4. Obtain pulled or combed hair strands; 5. Collect tube of blood; 6. Obtain major case prints; 7. Collect & separately pack each item of clothing
Term
[image]
Definition
Blunt force trauma - pattern bruise from weapon; determine physical correlation of weapon w/ wound & repetitive nature of injuries
Term
[image]
Definition
Blunt force trauma - laceration surrounded by larger abrasion; injury correlates well with magazine of pistol recovered at scene
Term
[image]
Definition
Blunt force trauma - defensive wounds on hands
Supporting users have an ad free experience!